Theme and Variations: A Little Inspiration

This week group classes are composing variations of Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Ideas for how to change the theme to create new variations include:

• Add a note (or two or three) in between the melody notes.  An easy way to make sure they sound right is to use notes from the chords.
• Change what octave you are playing in on the piano.
• Change to the minor key.
• Put the melody in the left hand and the harmony in the right hand.
• Use a sequence of a few of the melody notes.

What other changes can you think of?

Click on the link below to see many of the ideas I listed above demonstrated by a pianist.

Classical Piano Variations on Mary Had a Little Lamb

Another Take on Variation

This young man created variations of Mary Had a Little Lamb by using other famous songs and putting the theme of Mary in them. The list of famous songs includes classical and pop favorites like Revolutionary Etude, Phantom of the Opera, Linus and Lucy, and Beethoven's 5th Symphony.